HOUSTON -- A jury spared the life Tuesday of a convicted killer who murdered a Houston police officer, KPRC Local 2 reported.

The jury decided Juan Leonardo Quintero, 33, should spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole for murdering Officer Rodney Johnson during a traffic stop.

Quintero was found guilty of capital murder on May 8. Quintero was handcuffed in the back seat of Johnson's patrol car after he was arrested for driving without a license on Sept. 21, 2006, when he opened fire.

"I'd like to say I am sorry," Quintero said after the verdict was read.

Johnson's widow broke down and cried when the punishment was announced. The Johnson family wanted the death penalty.

"The city lost a hero. The department lost one of the best officers. I lost my husband. I feel victimized all over again," said Sgt. Joslyn Johnson, the victim's widow.

Rodney Johnson's sister took the stand and read the victim's impact statement.

"Juan Quintero is not remorseful and he is not insane. Losing a loved one the way that we did and we have is enough to drive someone insane," Susan Johnson said.

She also thanked the jury.

"There's nothing that you could have done today to bring Rodney back," she said.

"He shot him four times in the back, three times in the head. I can't believe that's what's mitigation," said David Johnson, Rodney Johnson's brother.

Juror Tiffany Moore said the jury felt there were special circumstances in Quintero's life that warranted mercy.

"It was different for everybody, actually. Some agreed on a few and others agreed on just one and some people used a lot of the evidence and testimony altogether to reach a conclusion," Moore said.

"There is a huge distinction to be made between justice and vengeance. And this jury clearly understood the difference between justice and vengeance," defense attorney David Lane said.

"Although we believe death was appropriate for his conduct, we have to respect the jury process," prosecutor John Jordan said.

Prosecutors told the jury Monday that Quintero deserved to die for murdering Johnson. They reminded the jury that Quintero was deported once before after he was convicted of indecency with a child, but sneaked back into the United States.

Defense attorneys tried to convince the jury to spare Quintero's life. They said he had a troubled childhood and suffered a brain injury that caused him to be unable to reasonably react to some circumstances.

Johnson's widow announced Monday that she has filed a civil lawsuit against Quintero's employer, Robert Camp of Camp Landscaping in Deer Park. Johnson's attorneys said that if Camp had not employed Quintero, Rodney Johnson would likely be alive.

"The owner of the company gave a man with a warrant out for his arrest, and who had alcohol and drug problems, a car to drive," said Ben Dominguez, Johnson's attorney. "He did not have a driver's license and he did not train him or teach him well. We believe if Camp did not employ Quintero, Officer Johnson's death might have never happened."

Johnson's widow has also threatened to sue the city if it does not change a departmental policy and place two officers in every patrol car.